DOHA: France have beaten England 2-1 and they will play Morocco for a place in next week’s final. Midfielder Tchouameni scored a sublime opening goal from range while Harry Kane leveled the score after the break with a penalty kick. Giroud scored a late goal to put France in control, right before Kane dramatically missed a second penalty kick, with the reigning world champions holding on to win.
France had the better of the opening stages but were indebted to goalkeeper Hugo Lloris — earning a record 143rd cap for his country’s senior men’s team — when he clawed a powerful long-range drive from Kane around a post to keep his side in front.
France will return to the same setting to meet Morocco in the semifinals on Wednesday, while 2018 semifinalists England’s first defeat in Qatar means they are out, despite a commendable overall performance. France or Morocco will meet Argentina or Croatia, who play on Tuesday, in the final on December 18.
Team News
England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Henderson, Rice, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Foden
France XI: Lloris, Kounde, Upamecano, Varane, Hernandez, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud
(sources: theathletic/sportingnews)
